St. Pat's day is a fun holiday for the Irish

I see that St. Patrick's day is already being promoted in stores, bars, church services and senior festivities. And of course, with an Irish-sounding name like Boyle, I can't escape the hullabaloo.

Although I hide a Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry under that name (and which in my husband's case was actually Welsh!) I am greeted by everyone as a dyed-in-the-wool Irishman on that day. Also, having had red hair in my youth sealed my fate.

For many years my husband and I spent our sons' school spring vacations, which often included St. Patrick's Day, in Ft. Lauderdale. The entire hotel went crazy with celebration, and the cocktail lounge hosted a huge party. Everyone sent free drinks to me and my husband, and most of them tried out an imitation brogue on us.

"Did your mother come from Ireland, for there's something Irish in ye?" or "And a tip o' the hat to you, me boy" or the favorite "Sure and you must have kissed the Blarney stone" ... I could go on and on, but I will spare you any more.

I can't tell any Irish jokes, but if you'd like to hear a couple of Pennsylvania Dutch jokes, I have some good ones.

Well, never mind, after all this is supposed to be a family newspaper!

***** How many of us are aware that many deadly diseases are actually preventable through proper diet and regular exercise? Medical experts are constantly reminding us that those two routines help prevent heart disease, cancer, and Type II diabetes. Sticking to a nutritious diet and moderate exercise is the easy way to insure better health, no matter what your age. So let's all start following those simple steps!

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Santa Rosa County is faced with a serious decision: residents feel the heavy burden of taxes, and our Governor, while running for the office he now holds, promised us a tax cut. He also claimed that cutting the taxes he proposed would have no deleterious effect on law enforcement or fire services.

These services are funded directly by property taxes paid by the homeowners of the county. Santa Rosa is the fifth fastestgrowing county in the state of Florida. The 2006 population count shows us at 144,561 residents. The Sheriff's office shows that we thus have 1.01 deputies per thousand residents.

Santa Rosa is far below both the national and state average for officers per resident. The sheriff's office has been held to the same budget as last year, which has been devastating for the sheriff and employees. It has been suggested that a one-cent sales tax could make more funding available.

Remember that your quality of life depends on the quality of the service that law enforcement can provide. Contact your board of county commissioners and let them know how you feel.

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Fact: Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.

Well, I'm trying. I'd like to meet my great-great-grandchildren and see how they turn out. Especially when you consider another odd fact - Rats multiply so quickly that in just eighteen months, two rats could have over a million descendants. I guess most of us will never have to worry about that!

See you next week!